Today's Contest
- After playing eighth-ranked University of Central Missouri tonight, the Lady Lions will have played the top four teams in the MIAA in 20 days. Central Missouri took over first place in the conference Wednesday after beating Lincoln 71-70, combined with Emporia State University's shocking 59-44 loss to Northeastern State University. Emporia State is ranked second in the country.
- The MIAA has its share of decorated coaches, and Central Missouri is no exception. Dave Slifer was named the WBCA Central Region Coach of the Year last season after leading the Jennies to a 24-6 record and berth in the NCAA Tournament. Going into the season, Slifer was sixth in coaching victories in Division II women's basketball.
- The Lady Lions face the league's top scorer in Central Missouri senior forward Keuna Flax. Flax boosted her scoring average to 20.6 points with a career-high 35 points against Lincoln. Along with being a MIAA first-team selection last season, Flax was a Daktronics second-team All-American.
Lindenwood Notes
- Sophomore guard
Jenny Rocha scored a career-high 18 points in Wednesday's win against Southwest Baptist. Rocha made 6 of 8 shots from the field and 6 of 8 free-throw attempts. Her scoring average has climbed to 9.7 points and she's third in the MIAA in minutes played per game (31.9). Rocha logged 40 minutes against No. 2 ranked Emporia State Jan. 6.
- Senior
Marissa Lehnig played one of the most complete games of the year for the Lady Lions Wednesday. Her 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals helped pull her team out of a four-game nosedive against the bigger, talented Bearcats. Lehnig made all three field-goal attempts and was 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. Lehnig has made 294 of 660 shots (.445) in her four-year career at Lindenwood.
- Freshman forward
Bre Zanders started for the first time in her career. Zanders has played in all 16 games this season and has helped keep senior
Caroline Bourlioux fresh during games. Zanders made both of her shots Wednesday and played 10 minutes. Zanders has made 21 of 50 shots (.420) this year.
- Junior
Morgan Johnson keeps proving it's not the amount of minutes played, but what's done during the time on the court. After a one-game hiatus from the starting lineup, Johnson started Wednesday and scored 13 points in 17 minutes. Her three-point basket late in the second half gave the Lady Lions the lead. Johnson is shooting .516 from the field and a league-best .438 from three-point range.
- Lindenwood coach
Tony Francis ran one of his shortest benches of the season Wednesday, playing only nine players as the Lady Lions struggled on offense and traded the lead with Southwest Baptist. When subtracting senior
Cassie Bluemner's two minutes on the court, the minutes played by the other eight Lady Lions is boosted much more. The Lady Lions bench still outscored the Bearcats 18-9.
- The Lady Lions scored 26 points off of 20 Southwest Baptist turnovers. And despite the Bearcats measurable size advantage, the Lady Lions outscored them 34-24 in the paint. Rocha, Bourlioux, Lehnig and freshman
Kassidy Gengenbacher attack the rim, regardless of who's in front of them.
- Five Lady Lions are averaging double-figure scoring in MIAA games: Gengenbacher (15.6 points), Bourlioux (11.1), Lehnig (10.9), Rocha (10.9) and Johnson (10.2). In all games, only Gengenbacher (14.3), Lehnig (12.3) and Bourlioux (12.1) are averaging more than 10 points.
Last Time Out
- Two steals by Lindenwood senior
Marissa Lehnig in the final 1 minute 33 seconds of Wednesday's MIAA game against Southwest Baptist University helped the Lady Lions snap a four-game losing streak.
- Lehnig stole the ball from sophomore Dilonna Johnson, fed junior
Morgan Johnson streaking down the wing and Johnson nailed a three-point basket to give the Lady Lions a 62-60 lead. With 49 seconds left, Lehnig stripped freshman Mackenzie Skupa, and the Lady Lions' possession ended with Johnson making a layup to give them a 65-63 lead.
- Freshman
Kassidy Gengenbacher made four free throws in the final minute before the Lady Lions came away with the 71-66 win over the Bearcats and won their first game at Hyland Arena since Dec. 14. Gengenbacher finished with 17 points, two assists and three steals. She leads the Lady Lions with 14.3 points per game.
About Central Missouri
- Junior forward Revonnia Howard, a 6-foot-3 forward from Chicago, Ill., has three double-doubles this season. Howard is third in the MIAA with 8.8 rebounds and averages 10.6 points. Howard transferred from Rock Valley College.
- Senior guard BreAnna Lewis is second on the Jennies with 13.7 points and first with 35 three-point baskets. Lewis was selected to the All-MIAA third team and MIAA All-Tournament team last season.
- The Jennies lost 67-51 to Emporia State in the MIAA Championship last season. Keuna Flax had 21 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. The Jennies qualified for the Division II Tournament and earned a No. 2 seed in the Central Regional before losing to Southwestern Oklahoma State.
